Mount Morris Bank Building Through the Years

The Mount Morris Bank Building has a rich history that spans over a century. It was built in 1904 by the Mount Morris Bank, a small community bank that served the local residents.

The bank's founders had a vision to create a sturdy and dependable financial institution that would serve the community's needs for generations to come. They chose a prominent location in the heart of Mount Morris, where the building still stands today.

The building's architecture is a testament to its age and character, with a mix of Romanesque and Victorian styles that were popular during the early 20th century. Its design was meant to convey a sense of solidity and trustworthiness, which was essential for a bank at the time.

The bank's early years were marked by steady growth and expansion, with the building undergoing several renovations and additions to accommodate the increasing demand for banking services.

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The Mount Morris Bank Building has a rich history that spans over a century. It was organized in December 1880, a time when Harlem was transforming from a quiet suburb into a busy city neighborhood.

The bank initially rented space at 133 East 125th Street, just west of Lexington Avenue. This was a strategic location, considering the new Manhattan Railway Company lines that connected the area to downtown commercial and residential districts.

Construction on the bank's new building began on April 3, 1883, and was completed on February 1, 1884. The bank moved in by late 1883, occupying the main floor.

The building was designed for a mix of commercial and residential use, which was common for buildings in the area at the time. The architects, Lamb & Rich, used a style called Romanesque Revival for the bank portion, with rough, rock-faced sandstone.

The residential portion, called "The Morris", had six apartments on four floors, plus an attic. It was a unique feature that set the building apart from its neighbors.

The apartments had their own entrance and were served by an elevator, but they didn't last long as homes. By the early 1900s, they were converted into offices.

In 1913, the Mount Morris Bank became a branch of the Corn Exchange Bank, making it the first New York City bank to establish local branches.

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The Mount Morris Bank Building has had its fair share of destruction and rebuilding. A fire in 1997 destroyed the roof and the top two floors, leaving the building in disrepair.

The city repossessed the building in 2000 and later demolished all but the basement and main floor in 2009 for safety reasons.

A community activist bought the building in 2003 with plans to open a culinary school, but unfortunately, she was unable to finance the project.

The Mount Morris Bank was organized in December 1880, a time when Harlem was rapidly transforming into an urban residential neighborhood.

Construction on the new bank building began on April 3, 1883, and was completed on February 1, 1884, with the bank moving into the main floor by late 1883.

The building was designed for a mix of commercial and residential use, with six apartments on four floors above the commercial space, plus an attic.

These apartments, called "The Morris", had their own entrance at #81 and were served by an elevator, but they barely lasted two decades.

The bank portions of the structure were built using rock-faced sandstone in the Romanesque Revival style, while the residential portion was clad in red Philadelphia brick in the Queen Anne style.

In 1913, the Mount Morris Bank became a branch of the Corn Exchange Bank, the first New York City bank to establish local branches.

The bank's operations were eventually moved to a new location in the mid-1960s, and the building was later occupied by various commercial tenants and a church.

New York City took title of the building in 1972 for back taxes, marking the end of the bank's time at this location.

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The Corn Exchange Building has been through a tumultuous journey of destruction and rebuilding. A fire destroyed the mansard roof and the two floors enclosed by it in 1997.

The city repossessed the building in 2000 and in 2009 demolished all but the basement and main floor, for safety's sake. This was a necessary step to ensure the building's structural integrity.

Developer Artimus Construction purchased the structure in 2012 and undertook to rebuild it for commercial and retail occupancy. The design, by Danois Architects, is not intended to be an exact copy of the original, but rather strongly suggestive of it.

The Corn Exchange Building reopened with an art fair in May 2015, bringing new life back to this historic spot!

The Mount Morris Bank Building has a rich history, and its transformation over the years is truly fascinating. In 1913, the Mount Morris Bank became a branch of the Corn Exchange Bank, one of the first banks in New York City to have many local branches.

The Corn Exchange Bank later joined with Chemical Bank in 1954, but unfortunately, the branch was closed in the mid-1960s. After that, the building was used by different businesses and even a church.

In 1972, New York City took ownership of the building due to unpaid taxes. By the late 1970s, many buildings in the city were being left empty, and the Corn Exchange Building was no exception. It stayed empty for about 30 years, getting damaged and falling apart.

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission thought about making it an official landmark in 1984, and they finally did so in 1993. They praised the building for still looking surprisingly like it did when it was new.

Sadly, a fire in 1997 destroyed the roof and the top two floors. In 2003, a community activist bought the building with plans to open a culinary school, but unfortunately, they couldn't finance the project.

The city took the building back in 2000, and in 2009, they had to tear down almost everything except the basement and the main floor for safety reasons. But then, in 2012, Artimus Construction bought the building and decided to rebuild it for shops and offices.

The new design, by Danois Architects, was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2013 and is not an exact copy of the original but rather strongly suggestive of it. The Corn Exchange Building officially reopened with an art fair in May 2015, bringing new life back to this historic spot!

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